What are the trees with the spiky balls?
Trees with Spiky Seed Pods. If you’ve encountered some round, spiny balls under a tree or maybe still on the plant, and you’re wondering what it could be, it’s likely one of several options: buckeye/horsechestnut (Aesculus), chestnut (Castanea), or sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
Why are sweet gum trees called sweet gum?
The name sweetgum comes from the Native Americans who would peel back the bark, scrape off the resin, and chew the resin as one would chew gum.
Is sweetgum good for anything?
Many of the medicinal properties of sweetgum are derived from the resinous sap that exudes when the outer bark of the tree has been damaged. The sap, known as storax, has been used for centuries to treat common ailments such as skin problems, coughs, and ulcers.
What are the black balls falling from trees?
Expert Response This is likely fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria). The larval stage of this native insect feeds on the leaves of hardwood trees, particularly oak, maple and ash.
What is the name of the tree that has helicopter seeds?
maple trees
More commonly referred to as “helicopters,” “whirlers,” “twisters” or “whirligigs,” samaras are the winged seeds produced by maple trees. All maples produce samaras, but red, silver and Norway maples often produce the largest quantities.
Can you eat sweet gum fruit?
Are sweetgum tree balls edible? While they’re not edible, the balls can double as spiky mulch to keep animals away from young plants. You can even get creative and use them to make holiday trinkets or decorative balls for bowls.
Is Liquidambar a maple?
Resembling the maple leaf in shape, the leaves of Liquidambar species are palmately lobed and arranged spirally on the twigs, and variegated cultivars are available.
What is a Liquidambar leaf?
Sweetgum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the southeastern United States, and is a popular ornamental tree in temperate climates. It is recognizable by the combination of its five-pointed star-shaped leaves (similar to maple leaves) and its hard, spiked fruits.
Is a sweetgum an oak tree?
Although certainly related because they’re both flowering plants, sweetgum trees and oak trees belong to different plant families. Botanists place sweetgum in the witch hazel family, while oaks are assigned to the beech family.
What are the little black things that fall off oak trees?
These little balls, called oak galls, are a common occurrence caused when the tree reacts to non-stinging wasps laying their eggs on its leaves, branches, twigs or flowers. These insects inject a hormone into the plant tissue, causing it to grow abnormally and enclose the developing wasp larvae.
What are the black things that fall from oak trees?
These are insect galls. We get this inquiry occasionally and just had another one today. Normally, the galls fall to the ground still attached to the leaves, but sometimes they also separate and you get the rain of galls you are experiencing this year..
What is a helicopter tree?
Richardson, Duke University. More commonly referred to as “helicopters,” “whirlers,” “twisters” or “whirligigs,” samaras are the winged seeds produced by maple trees. All maples produce samaras, but red, silver and Norway maples often produce the largest quantities.
What is a helicopter seed?
Samara fruit, also known as helicopter seeds, are beloved by many playful gardeners and nature lovers. These papery winged seeds can make for good toys and snacks. A samara is a type of dry fruit, not a fleshy fruit like an apple or cherry.
Are sweet gum trees worth anything?
Sweetgum is a relatively hard, uniform grained wood previously used for furniture and plywood. It tends to warp and stain easily. It is low valued and currently rarely used, except for industrial blocking and pallets.
Is Liquidambar styraciflua a shade tree?
Good-looking all year, Liquidambar styraciflua makes a superb shade tree or specimen tree for a large landscape. Excellent plant for moist soil areas along streams and ponds. A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in deep, medium moisture, acidic, well-drained soils.
What does Liquidambar mean?
Liquidambar : from the Latin liquidus, liquid, and ambar, amber, a reference to its fragrant resin. styraciflua: flowing with gum. Oregon State Univ. campus: several south and north of Cordley Hall. Found all over the campus and Corvallis, note variation in fall color.
What is Liquid-Amber used for?
In the pharmaeutical trade material is known as liquid-amber, or copalm balm, or storax. Native Americans used it medicinally as well as for chewing gum. They also made various teas and medicines to treat dysentery and diarrhea from the bark and roots of sweetgum. It is reported to be excellent for healing wounds.